The Acting British High Commissioner, Mr Martin Fidler and Mrs Fidler will launch this year's Fiji's Biggest Morning Tea on Thursday 10 September 2009 at the High Commissioner's Residence, 1 Cakobau Road, Suva at 9.30am. Over 150 guests have been invited.

 

Fiji's Biggest Morning Tea is an annual event that was established in 2006 to raise funds and to create public awareness.  Following its overwhelming success the event has continued annually throughout Fiji and funds raised over the last four years will now be utilised for a Mobilised Hospice providing home-based quality care for cancer patients.

 

The Acting High Commissioner, Mr Fidler says he is delighted to launch this year's event and hopes that the rest of Fiji will continue, as they have in the past, to support this worthy cause by hosting  or participating in the morning teas planned throughout Fiji.

Background information

The Fiji Cancer Society is a nation-wide community-based voluntary organisation dedicated to controlling cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer and providing support, through research, education, counselling, advocacy and service.” The Society is a non-profit organisation.  Board members, committee members, counsellors visiting the hospitals and general helpers are all volunteers. The Society aims to bring about awareness in the workplace, schools and village communities.

 

Cervical and breast cancers are the most common types of cancer in Fiji. The Ministry of Health has identified over 68 different types of cancer in Fiji and the number of patients is increasing each year. Unfortunately many cancer patients present themselves at late stages, therefore the mortality rate is high. Treatment provided for cancer patients in Fiji includes surgery, minimal chemotherapy and medication. There is no oncology centre and cancer patients are treated at Fiji's four major hospitals - Suva Private Hospital, Colonial War Memorial Hospital Suva, Lautoka Hospital and Labasa Hospital. As radiotherapy and other follow-up treatment for some cancers is not available locally, many people with cancer are seeking money for overseas treatment.

 

Often patients do not have any money for an ambulance to the nearest health centre or hospital, or for prescribed medication for their follow-up treatment. When diagnosed with cancer, patients from outer islands have to travel to the main island for treatment. They often have to stay with relatives or friends, living in a village as near to the hospital as possible, for months at a time. Cancer patients sometimes live in poor conditions, without a bed, indoor flush toilet or means of keeping cool. The Cancer Society endeavours wherever possible to fulfil the obligations of its Mission Statement, primarily through support, education, counselling, advocacy and service.

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